FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAMHSA Press Office: 240-276-2130
September 15, 2008
www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA Awards $27.5 Million in Project LAUNCH Grants to Promote the Wellbeing of Young Children in Communities Across America
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
today announced that more than $27.5 million in Project LAUNCH (Linking
Actions for Unmet Needs in Children’s Health) grants funds will be awarded to
state and tribal programs over the next five years. Project LAUNCH is a new
grant program designed to promote the wellness of young children ages birth to
8 years of age by addressing the physical, emotional, social, and behavioral
aspects of their development.
Project LAUNCH grantees will implement a range of evidence based public health
strategies to support young child wellness. Participating states and tribes will work to improve
coordination among child-serving systems, build infrastructure, and improve
methods for providing services. The majority of the funds will be passed
from the state and tribal level to an identified locality where the grant
will support the enhancement and integration of services in addition to system
coordination and development.
Local service enhancement efforts will include but not be limited to mental health
consultation for childcare and early education providers, developmental
assessments in a range of settings, family strengthening programs,
parenting skills training and home visitation.
"These Project LAUNCH grants will enhance and coordinate key
child-serving systems in communities across the country," said SAMHSA Acting
Administrator Eric Broderick, DDS, MPH. "By providing young children
with supportive and nurturing environments, we can promote healthy
development and prevent problems before they occur."
In order to model the cooperation it requires from grantees, SAMHSA is working
in partnership with other agencies in the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services to guide the development of the initiative and integrate
Project LAUNCH with other federal programs. This partnership includes HHS' Administration for Children
and Families, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Health Resources and Services
Administration.
The programs selected for LAUNCH grants will receive approximately $900,000 each
year, over the course of the next five years. The actual award amounts may vary,
depending on the availability of funds and the progress achieved by the
awardees. The program will be administered by SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services.
The following is a list of the grant awardees and their projected yearly grant
amounts:
The State of Maine’s Community Caring Collaborative -- $916,000. The grant will help expand
prevention programs for underserved communities in Washington County, including 2,000 Passamaquoddy tribal
members.
Arizona Department of Health Services’ TAPESTRY Project -- $900,946. This grant will
build programs to support the immediate and long term well being of children in
Phoenix’s South Mountain community.
State of Rhode Island’s RI LAUNCH Program -- $915,922. This grant will enhance the
RI Successful Start Initiative’s existing efforts to build the social-behavioral capacities
of young children throughout the Providence, R.I., area.
State of New Mexico’s New Mexico Project LAUNCH -- $916,000.
The State of New Mexico will use the grant to develop a demonstration project to
promote the well being of young children in Santa Fe County.
Washington State Department of Health’s Project LAUNCH Washington -- $916,000.
Grant monies will be directed toward expanding child wellness services in Yakima County, building on
existing family service, healthcare and legal service systems.
Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewas’ Red Cliff Project LAUNCH -- $915,200. This
project will build a supportive, family-driven system of child services by blending traditional tribal
values and evidenced-based practices.
SAMHSA is a public health agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The
agency is responsible for improving the accountability, capacity and effectiveness of the
nation’s substance abuse prevention, addictions treatment and mental health services delivery systems.
